In Clark County, jobs in the scientific research and development services pay the highest wages

(Click Image to Enlarge Graph)

Individuals that are employed in the scientific research and development services industry reported the top wages in Clark County for the 2nd quarter of 2006. The average worker in the industry in Clark County received a wage of $113,773 in 2nd quarter of 2006. The pay is greater than the industry wage in Washington of $79,021 and greater than then the wage for jobs in this industry in the US of $81,871.

Other high-paying jobs in Clark County, Washington are present in farm product raw material merch. whls. ($101,103), petroleum merchant wholesalers ($99,625), securities and commodity contracts brokerage ($85,920) and medical and diagnostic laboratories ($84,380) industries. Note: For Detail Comparison, Click the Above Graph

About: These facts are part of the eCanned.com Industry Analysis Series.

Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Private Sector Employment Only.

Clark County Wages have increased by 15.7% Since 2001

(Click Image to Enlarge Graph)

Since 2001, industry wages increased in Clark County, Washington by a total of 15.7%. This is greater than the growth in wages for the State of Washington and less than the growth in average industry wages for the United States.

About: These facts are part of the eCanned.com Industry Analysis Series.

Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Private Sector Employment Only.

Clark County Industry Wages Lag Behind Washington, and Wages Lag Behind the United States

(Click Image to Enlarge Graph)

Wages in all industries in Clark County, Washington can be understood as being relatively high when compared to other Counties throughout the state in the 2nd quarter of 2006. The industry wages are 11.5 percent lower than the reported averages in the state of $41,025. The average pay was less than the US average pay of $40,259.

About: These facts are part of the eCanned.com Industry Analysis Series.

Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Private Sector Employment Only.

Clark County Five-Year Industry Employment Change

Out of the 167 industries (4-digit NAICS) with sufficient data reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in each quarter, 56 reported job growth in the duration of the last five years and 111 industries reported a drop in employment.

Total Five-Year Employment Decline in Clark County

Given the industries in the area, the Semiconductor and electronic component mfg. industry faced the greatest employment loss with a total loss of 1,521 jobs in that time period. The declines in the Semiconductor and electronic component mfg. industry make up 24.1 percent of the total job loss in Clark County, Washington.

Top 5 Industries
1. Semiconductor and electronic component mfg. (1,521 jobs lost)
2. General freight trucking (900 jobs lost)
3. Wired telecommunications carriers (511 jobs lost)
4. Travel arrangement and reservation services (381 jobs lost)
5. Plastics product manufacturing (298 jobs lost)

Total Five-Year Employment Growth in Clark County

Out of the 4-digit NAICS industries, the Scientific research and development services industry has added the most employment with 1,569 employees finding new jobs in the industry. The employment growth in the Scientific research and development services industry makes up 8.2 percent of the total employment growth in Clark County.

Top 5 Industries
1. Scientific research and development services (1,569 new jobs)
2. Other general merchandise stores (1,028 new jobs)
3. Building foundation and exterior contractors (948 new jobs)
4. Employment services (696 new jobs)
5. Building finishing contractors (654 new jobs)

In Clark County, Washington, the total number of workers for all sectors has increased by 11,904 jobs from mid-2001 to mid-2006.

Total industry employment has increased by 12.5 percent since the 2nd Quarter of 2001. This is greater than growth in Washington, which saw a gain of 5.3 percent since 2001 ( 2nd Quarter). The gains felt were greater than than the gain felt at the national level of 2.6 percent.

Clark County Five-Year Percentage Growth in Employment

The Scientific research and development services industry has witnessed the largest percentage of employment expansion, increasing by 703.7 percent from 2001 to 2006. This industry in Clark County has grow faster than the industry job growth experienced in Washington, where it saw a gain of 27.2 percent. The Scientific research and development services industry in Clark County outpaced the national average, which felt a gained 11.4 percent.

Top 5 Industries
1. Scientific research and development services (703.7 percent gain)
2. Independent artists, writers, and performers (285.7 percent gain)
3. Data processing and related services (258.7 percent gain)
4. ISPs and web search portals (245.2 percent gain)
5. Nondepository credit intermediation (209.2 percent gain)

Clark County Five-Year Percentage Decline in Employment

The Travel arrangement and reservation services industry has lost the largest amount of employment in terms of percentage, losing 78.4 percent of the jobs from 2001 to 2006. These have declined faster than the industry has seen in the Washington, where the industry sector experienced a loss of 13.7 percent. The losses in the Travel arrangement and reservation services industry in Clark County outpaced the US in terms of percent of decline of industry employment. The US lost 22.6 percent in terms of employment in the Travel arrangement and reservation services industry.

Top 5 Industries
1. Travel arrangement and reservation services (78.4 percent decline)
2. Telecommunications resellers (68.7 percent decline)
3. Religious organizations (63.7 percent decline)
4. General freight trucking (50.2 percent decline)
5. Textile furnishings mills (48.3 percent decline)





About: This report is part 2 of 6 in the eCanned.com Industry Analysis Series.

Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Private Sector Employment Only.

Clark County One-Year Industry Employment Change

Clark County One-Year Percentage Decline in Employment

The Highway, street, and bridge construction industry has lost the largest amount of employment in terms of percentage, losing 26.5 percent from 2005 (Q2) to 2006 (Q2). The losses of the area have declined faster than the industry has experienced in the State of Washington, where the industry felt a gain of 6.9 percent. The losses in the Highway, street, and bridge construction industry in Clark County outpaced the United States industry losses overall. During this period, the United States gained 0.6 in percent of jobs in the Highway, street, and bridge construction industry.

Top 5 Industries
1. Highway, street, and bridge construction (26.5 percent decline)
2. Other heavy construction (25.2 percent decline)
3. Support activities for road transportation (22.9 percent decline)
4. Telecommunications resellers (17.8 percent decline)
5. Insurance carriers (16.9 percent decline)

The total number of jobs has increased by 4.5 percent since the 2nd Quarter figures of 2005. This change is greater than percent in Washington, which went through a gain of 3.6 percent from 2005 (2nd Quarter). The gains the area experienced were greater than than the gain seen for the United States of 2.0 percent.

Clark County One-Year Percentage Growth in Employment

The Independent artists, writers, and performers industry has gone through the largest job growth by percent, increasing by 217.6 percent from the 2005 (Q2) to the 2006 (Q2). This industry in Clark County has increased employment faster than the growth seen in the industry for Washington, where the industry felt a gain of 0.4 percent. The Independent artists, writers, and performers industry in Clark County outpaced the national average, which felt a gained 9.5 percent.

Top 5 Industries
1. Independent artists, writers, and performers (217.6 percent gain)
2. Specialized design services (51.1 percent gain)
3. Book, periodical, and music stores (32.8 percent gain)
4. Warehousing and storage (32.2 percent gain)
5. Electric goods merchant wholesalers (29.8 percent gain)

Total One-Year Employment Decline in Clark County

Given the industries in the area, the Scientific research and development services industry witnessed the largest drop in employment, losing a total of 233 jobs. The declines in the Scientific research and development services industry make up 13.5 percent of the jobs lost during the period in Clark County, Washington.

Top 5 Industries
1. Scientific research and development services (233 jobs lost)
2. Highway, street, and bridge construction (196 jobs lost)
3. Other amusement and recreation industries (133 jobs lost)
4. Lessors of real estate (121 jobs lost)
5. Insurance carriers (96 jobs lost)

Out of the 160 4-digit NAICS industries, 52 accounted an for increase in employment during the period and 105 industries reported employment loss in the period.

In Clark County, Washington, the aggregate employment for all industry sectors has increased by 4,593 total jobs from 2005 to 2006.

Total One-Year Employment Growth in Clark County

Out of the 4-digit NAICS industries, the Limited-service eating places industry has brought the most jobs with a total of 495 new jobs created in the period. The job growth in the Limited-service eating places industry makes up 9.9 percent of the growth in Clark County.

Top 5 Industries
1. Limited-service eating places (495 new jobs)
2. Building finishing contractors (326 new jobs)
3. Building foundation and exterior contractors (306 new jobs)
4. Utility system construction (210 new jobs)
5. Building equipment contractors (199 new jobs)





About: This report is part 1 of 6 in the eCanned.com Industry Analysis Series.

Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Private Sector Employment Only.

Income and Poverty in Clark County, Washington

While the median household income saw a decline during the period of 2000 to 2005 in Clark County, Washington, the Race/Ethnicity group that experienced the largest decline in median income was the Hispanic Race/Ethnicity category. This group experienced a decline of 36.3 percent in the last five years. The Black or African American Race/Ethnicity category has been least effected by the income level decline in Clark County, encountering a 11.5 percent increase in median income, since the values reported in the 2000 Decennial Census.

Black or African American householders reported a median household income that was 17.2 percent less than the overall reported level in 2000, with a reported median of $46,856. The households that were headed by an American Indian and Alaska Native individual in Clark County had a median income of $54,316, this level was 4 percent less than the median for all households. Hispanic Householders in Clark County, Washington , as reported in 2000, had a median household income of $43,347, which is 23.4 percent less than the reported median household income for all households in the area. In Clark County, Washington White headed households reported household income (in 2005 Dollars) of $57,206 according to the 2000 Dencennial Census, which was 1.1 percent greater than the median in 2000. The Asian householders in the area have reported their median household incomes at $59,231. This median income level is 4.6 percent greater than the reported median household income for all households in the area.

When put side-by-side with other counties (or parishes) throughout the United States, Clark County, Washington can be recognized as having a rate of poverty among the people, accounting a rate of 9.1 percent with a family income under the 1999 poverty level. The Black or African American race/ethnicity population category, holds the highest rate of poverty with 21 percent of the population in 2000 living in poverty. Individuals aged Under 5 years are experiencing most percent people in poverty in Clark County, having 14.1 percent of this age group in the area living in poverty.

The median household income has declined from the inflation-adjusted values in 2000. The income level has decreased to $50,836, representing a 10.2 percent decline. Clark County, Washington, in terms of percent of decline, ranks 7 of 16 counties in percent of decline for household income in Washington. Clark County ranks 214 of 668 counties (or parishes) when comparing the decline in median income in the US.

Compared to other counties (and parishes) throughout the nation, Clark County had a relatively high median household income of $56,600 (2005 Dollars). This median is 5.4 percent higher than the median income in State of Washington of $53,558 and this is 13.2 percent higher than the median for the rest of the nation, which is a reported $49,133.

The poverty rate in Clark County, Washington has increased by 2.6 percent from the rates reported in the Decennial Census, moving from 9.1 percent to 11.7 percent.

Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census. 2005 American Community Survey.

Higher Education in Clark County, Washington

From 2000 to 2005, the percent of the male population that can be considered highly educated has increased by 0.4 percent. As reported in 2005, 25.4 percent of area's male population, over the age 25, achieved a Bachelors Degree or Higher. At the same time, the percent of women, over the age 25, holding at least a Bachelors Degree has increased by a total of 4.4 percent. By 2005, a total of 23.8 percent of the female population had achieved this level of education.

From 2000, Clark has increased in the total percent of the over 25 population having a Bachelors Degree or Higher. This population group has grown by 2.6 percent to a total of 24.6 percent in 2005, as reported by the American Community Survey. The proportion of the 2005 population having received at least a BA is less than the 2005 State of Washington percent of 30.2 and less than the United States percent of 27.2.

Clark County, Washington has a highly-educated population, with 22 percent of the population over 25 years old having received at least a Bachelors Degree, according to the Decennial Census of 2000. Clark has a lower percent of individuals with higher educations than the State of Washington's proportion of 27.8 percent and a lower percent than the national average of 24.4 percent.

Reported by the 2000 Census in Clark County, Washington, a high proportion of the male population in the area have reached the Some College or Associates Degree category, with 37 percent achieving this level. The female population in Clark on average have achieved a lower level of higher education (Bachelors or Higher) than men; 25 percent (Men) versus 19.4 percent (Women). The most common level of education for women in the area is Some College or Associates Degree category, with 40.4 percent of the women population in the area achieving this level of education.

In Clark County, Washington according to the Decennial Census of 2000, 22.2 percent of the White Alone, 22.4 percent of Black or African American, 31.8 percent of the Asian alone and 10.2 percent of the Hispanic or Latino population (over 25) has obtained a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census. 2005 American Community Survey.

Demographic Profile for Clark County, Washington

In terms of total land area, Clark extends a total area of 628 square miles. This area has a high population density of 643 persons per square mile. Other counties with similar densities in the US include: -- more densely populated -- Arapahoe, CO (659 per sq. mile ), Stark, OH (661 per sq. mile ), Dakota, MN (673 per sq. mile ), -- less densely populated -- Chesapeake city, VA (643 per sq. mile ), Palm Beach, FL (643 per sq. mile ), Sarasota, FL (641 per sq. mile ).

Clark County, Washington had a total estimated population of 403,766 in 2005. The estimated population has increased very sharply, since its 2000 population of 347,545. This growth signifies an increase of 16.2 percent. Clark ranks 1 of 39 counties in terms of population growth in Washington and the county ranks 46 of 3,141 counties when analyzing total county population change across the nation.

The population division of the Census Bureau estimates in 2005 a median age in Clark County, Washington to be 34.9 years old. The median in Clark is less than the median in Washington of 36.7. Since 2000, the area has experienced an increase in the median, when the median age was 34.2 years of age. With 26 percent of the 2005 population being made up of children and youth younger than 18, Clark can be described as having a medium-high percent of individuals under 18. The working age population group (18-64) has a medium-high presence of the population, with 64.2 percent of the population makes up this age category. The retirement (65 and over) age group comprises 9.9 percent of the population. When compared to other counties in the United States, this represents a relatively low percent of the population.

From 2000, a high number of individual migrated to the Clark internationally. The migration from outside the US into Clark totals 6 percent of the total international migration into the State of Washington. This amount of international migration is high when analyzed against the base population in the year 2005 and compared to other counties across the US.

Clark County, Washington has a population that is made of 85 percent White, 1.9 percent African American, 3.7 percent Asian, and 5.8 percent Hispanic. The population mix can be considered to have a modest level of diversity in terms of race and ethnicity, with 11.4 percent of the population being minorities. This is less than the State of Washington percent of 18.3. Since 2000, Clark has increased the level of diversity when 9.6 percent of the population was made up of minorities.

Datasource: Population Estimates Program, U.S. Bureau of the Census.

Housing Report for Clark County, Washington

In Clark County, the real estate market was made up of 152,584 homes in the year 2005. This county has gone through a growth in housing units, adding all together 14,579 residential structures since 2001, a change of 10.6 percent.

In the State of Washington, Clark County stands 2 of 39 by percentage growth in residential real estate. The county is positioned 266 of 3,141, comparing the percentage change in residential in other US counties.

Clark County recorded a median home value in 2005 of $218,100, published by the American Community Survey. This value is less than the overall Washington 2005 home value of $227,700 and greater than home value of $167,500 for the United States in the same year.

There seems to be a limited amount of housing that is affordable in Clark County, Washington. In 2005, 8.6 percent of owner-occupied dwellings were valued under $125k.

The residential housing values in Clark County, Washington have seen large increases since their reported values in 2000. The values have increased by $61,500, or 39.3 percent, since 2000 when they were valued at $156,600.

Clark County may be be described as having a relatively high percentage of homes that are high in price. In 2005, the American Community Survey accounted that 5.2 percent owner-occupied dwelling are valued over a half a million dollars.

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Employment Report for Clark County, Washington -- Annual 2005 Industry Summary

Manufacturing saw the largest loss of employment between the years 2001-2005 in Clark County. The sector faced a loss of 3,964 employees during the period, or 22.8 percent of the employment in the industry. This made up a total of 86 percent of all employment losses in the county.

Utilities is the industry that has grown the most in terms of employment from 2001-2005 in Clark County, with a job growth of 75.7 percent. This is greater than the rate of industry employment change in the United States of -8.2 percent. The State of Washington felt a shift in employment in the industry of -7.5 percent, in the period of time since 2001.

In Clark County, Construction, Arts, entertainment, and recreation and Real estate and rental and leasing industries, in terms of United States location quotient, are the most dominant in the region. The Construction industry has an LQ of 1.61. In other words, the percent of total jobs in the Construction sector is 1.61 times greater than the US average, showing signs that Clark County may specialize, or be an exporter of Construction.

In Clark County, Health care and social assistance, Retail Trade, and the Manufacturing industries have the largest percent of jobs of all industries. The Health care and social assistance is the major employer in the county making up 14.2 percent of all the jobs in the county. This makes up 14,757 people employed. The Retail Trade and Manufacturing industries total 13.9 and 12.9 percent of the total jobs, respectively.

The Manufacturing industry decreased the most in percent of total employment in Clark County since the year 2001. The industry went from accounting for 18.3 percent of total employment for the year 2001 to 12.9 percent in the year 2005.

Mining is the industry with the largest establishments in Clark County, averaging 38 workers per each place of employment, being greater than the US industry average of 21 and greater than the Washington typical size of 19 for the Mining industry.





Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW).